China warns US of retaliation over expanded Iran sanctions
Beijing says it will defend Chinese companies after Washington sanctioned nearly 60 entities tied to Iran's oil trade, including firms in Hong Kong and mainland China.
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Business
Druckenmiller Criticises Bessent's Expanded Treasury Bond Buybacks
Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller has publicly attacked his former protégé, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, over a plan to buy back more long-term government bonds, calling it an attempt to manage prices rather than markets.
Business
Shein Confirms Hong Kong Listing at Roughly $27bn Valuation
The fast-fashion retailer will list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 1 September, at a valuation far below the $100bn it once commanded, after repeated failed attempts to go public in New York and London.
Business
Global Trade Defies Tariff Forecasts, WTO Sharply Raises 2025 Outlook
Economists expected Donald Trump's 2025 tariffs to shrink world trade. Instead, the World Trade Organization has repeatedly revised its growth forecast upward, as businesses rerouted shipments rather than abandoned them.
Business
Portugal and Spain face Europe's worst housing shortages
Both Iberian countries are building far fewer homes than their growing populations need, driving up prices and rents and fuelling street protests. Immigration-led population growth, planning bureaucracy and high construction costs are all cited as causes.
Business
Apple Cuts EU App Store Fees, Eases Rules for Rival App Stores
Apple has replaced its controversial per-install fee with a flat 5% commission for apps sold outside its App Store, in a move it says resolves its dispute with EU regulators over the Digital Markets Act.
Business
China's oil stockpiles cushioned global markets during Hormuz crisis
China's record crude reserves and falling oil demand helped steady prices after the Strait of Hormuz was closed, according to US government estimates. Analysts say the episode revealed a deeper shift toward energy self-sufficiency and electrification.
Business
Revolut to build its own airport lounges, starting in Copenhagen
The London-based fintech, known for banking without branches, is opening a branded lounge at Copenhagen Airport in 2027, the first in a planned European network.
Business
Guardian probe finds gap between Microsoft's AI claims and chip numbers
An investigation by the Guardian has found Microsoft has far fewer advanced AI chips installed than its public statements imply. The company disputes the newspaper's figures but has not said which numbers are wrong.
Business
AI tools let scammers pinpoint holiday photos to craft bank fraud texts
Fraudsters are using publicly available AI image-analysis tools to work out where holiday photos were taken, then send convincing fake bank alerts referencing that location. Security researchers say the technique is now accurate enough to fool even cautious travellers.
Business
FT poll: most US voters say Trump has left them worse off
A new Financial Times poll finds most American voters feel worse off financially under Donald Trump, with Democrats now leading Republicans on the economy just months before November's midterm elections.
Business
BlackBerry rebuilds as software firm a decade after phones vanished
Ten years after abandoning its once-iconic handsets, the Canadian company has turned itself into a supplier of car software and cybersecurity tools, with customers including automakers, NATO and European governments.
Business
China and US took opposite paths through 2026 oil shock
After Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz in February 2026, Beijing leaned harder into clean energy while Washington doubled down on oil and gas. The split is reshaping the global energy map.
Business
Anthropic Explains How Claude's New AI Text Watermarks Work
Anthropic has published technical detail on the invisible watermark now embedded in text and code generated by its Claude chatbot, a measure driven by the EU AI Act. The company says the mark can survive light editing but does not alter the substance of what Claude produces.
Business
Panama Canal transit fees hit record highs as Hormuz shuts
Shipping companies are paying more than $1 million, and in some cases up to $4 million, to jump the queue at the Panama Canal. The surge follows the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and a new El Niño-driven drought.
Business
US 30-year bond yield hits highest level since 2001 amid inflation fears
The US Treasury sold $25bn of 30-year bonds at a yield of 5.216%, the most expensive long-term borrowing since 2001, as investors demand greater compensation for persistent inflation and a widening deficit.
Business
France bans unsolicited telemarketing calls, requires prior consent
From this week, French companies can no longer cold-call consumers without permission. Violations carry fines of up to €375,000 for firms.
Business
BAE Systems pays $36m penalty for 104 US arms export violations
The US State Department has concluded a settlement with the British defence company's US subsidiary over breaches of arms export rules. Half the penalty will be suspended if BAE strengthens its compliance programme.
Business
India's Yulu Raises $93 Million to Expand Electric Delivery Bike Fleet
Bengaluru-based Yulu has secured $93 million to grow its rental fleet fourfold to 200,000 electric two-wheelers, as India's rapid grocery and parcel delivery apps push demand for gig-worker transport.
Business
River AI, two months old, raises $1.1bn to let firms own their models
River AI, founded by former xAI co-founder Igor Babuschkin, has raised $1.1 billion in seed and Series A funding barely four months after incorporation. The Palo Alto startup wants companies and eventually individuals to train and own custom AI models rather than rent general-purpose ones.
Business
Greenland Delays Trump-Linked Oil Firm's Arctic Drilling Plans
Greenland's government has told Greenland Energy, a Texas company with ties to Donald Trump, that it cannot obtain drilling permits in time for its planned start date. The decision pushes back a project the US president's envoy had said could produce oil within a year.
Business
Oil nears $90 as US-Iran talks stall; Tui profits sink 43%
Brent crude climbed close to $90 a barrel on Tuesday after negotiations between Washington and Tehran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz broke down. The travel group Tui reported a 43% drop in quarterly pre-tax profit, citing higher fuel costs tied to the conflict.
Business
UK heatwaves cost economy £4.4bn in lost output this year
Repeated heatwaves between May and July are estimated to have cut UK economic output by £4.4bn, according to green think tank Verdant, which warns annual losses could exceed £25bn by 2030.
Business
Chinese EV sales hit record share of European market
Chinese electric car brands captured 14.2% of western Europe's battery electric vehicle market in early 2026, intensifying pressure for tighter tariffs and quotas.